Cooling system for car wheel axles



Jan. 4, 1949. V I w, WEEKS 2,458,231

COOLING SYSTEM FOR CAR WHEEL AXLES Filed Aug. 30. 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Inventoy Jan. 4, 1949.- w. D. WEEKS 2,458,231

COOLING SYSTEM FOR CAR WHEEL AXLES Inventor WWW Z5.

scription and the accompanying Patented Jan. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COOLING SYSTEM FOR CAR WHEEL AXLES Wesley D. Weeks, Phillips, Tex.

Application August 30', 1944, Serial No. 551,970

Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved water circulating system which is expressly adapted for cooling railway car wheel axles, and its obvious purpose is to so condition such axles as to minimize the likelihood of overheating and the forming of so-called hot boxes, whereby to promote safety and to thus minimize disastrous accidents.

It goes without saying that there is constant need for safety appliances and equipment in this particular category. Moreover, it is somewhat common practice these days for the use of socalled hollow axles, these designed to conserve on material. With this in mind, I have taken advantage of the hollow axle arrangement and pass water circulating ipes through the hollow bores of said axles, thus relying upon a principle of heat exchange to substantially and appreciably cool the entire axle from end to end and thus achieve, in a simple and expedient manner, the aims and results of the instant invention.

Briefly, then, the invention is characterized by a circulato y system of water pipes, these being connected at their intake and discharge ends with a radiator atop the tender, and an electric pump being employed to maintain the desired circulation.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following deillustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the tender and one of the cars in dotted lines, and

the novel water cooling device or structure in full lines.

Figure 2 is an enlarged central sectional and elevational view through one of the hollow wheel-equipped car axles.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the swivel-type coupling employed to promote adaptability of the structure to the stock or existing axle and wheel parts.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals and to Figure 1 in particular, it will be seen that the tender is indicated at A and a conventional car is denoted at B. As shown in Figure 2, the hollow axle is denoted at 4 and the wheels at 5, these having extending journals 6.

The electric circulating pump 1 is of any appropriate construction (not detailed), and this is suitably mounted. It has a branch return pipe connection, as at 8, with one end portion of an appropriately constructed air-cooled radiator 9, this mounted ato the tender for satisfactory operation.

The gravity and force-fed feeder or supply pipe [0 leads downwardly from one end of the radiator and connects by way of an appropriate flexible coupling II, this between the tender and car, with the delivery and distributing line or pipe 12. The withdrawal or return pipe line I3 is on the opposite side and is connected by way of a coupling l5 and riser M to the return or intake side of the pump 1.

The cooling elements proper are in the form of pipe length-s I6 which extend through and beyond the ends of the bore in the hollow axle and the hollow journal, as shown in Figure 2. Each end of the pipe I6 is provided with a cup I! (see Fig. 3) charged with packing 18 of any appropriate type. The short delivery pipe [9 is provided with a surrounding ring 20 which is suitably welded in place at 20 to function as an assembling and clamping flange, this being located in the cup and suitably held in place by a clamping ring nut, as at 2|, to provide a swivel-type stufiing box. This allows the desired flexibility of movement between the delivery and conducting pipes.

In actual practice it may be necessary to provide lock-type valves (not shown) at desired points throughout the piping system to prevent drainage of the system by unauthorized individuals. It has been found, for example, that in cold and winter weather it is advisable to charge the system with a suitable anti-freeze solution and the use of lock valves would prevent it being drained out accidentally or otherwise.

In the arrangement depicted in Figure 1, each one of the car axles is provided with a cooling pipe element I6. The cooling result is obtained by heat exchange and radiation as well as near contact of the cold water pipe with the bore of the axle.

It is submitted that railway cars equipped with a force-fed radiator included pipe system of the type herein shown and described will be substantially protected at all times, thus promoting safety and reducing hot boxes and consequent accidents traceable thereto.

The cooling water has parallel flow through the entire system of hollow axles from side to side of the train. This insures that each axle receives cool water from the first axle in the system to the last axle at the back of the train.

Although the invention is specified to be used in conjunction with a tender, passenger or equivalent car, I desire to be understood that it is applicable touse in connection with dining cars, sleeping cars and all rolling stock. A careful consideration of the foregoing description in connection with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain-a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sulficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

I claim:

l. A'cooling system for railway rolling stock comprising a pair of wheels, a, tubular axle conmeeting said wheels and having end portions projecting beyond each of the wheels, a coolant conveyor pipe extending through said axle and therebeyond, and :means whereby a cooling medium is gravity fed to and passed through said pipe from one end and pumped therefrom from the opposite end, said means embodying packing boxes on the ends of said pipe and swivel pipe connections extending fro'msaid boxes, a coolant feed pipe line communicating with the connection on one end of the pipe, a coolant withdrawal pipe line communicating with the other swivel connection, a pump with which the last line is connected, a radiator with which both lines are connected, said radiator being mounted for use on a plane above said feed line and providing said gravity feed. g

2. A cooling system for: railway rolling stock comprising a pair-of wheels, a tubular axle connecting said wheels and having end portions projecting beyond each of the wheels, a cooling medium conveyor pipe extending through said axle and therebeyond, and means whereby a cooling medium is circulated through said conveyor pipe from one end and withdrawn from the opposite end embodying packing boxes on the ends of said conveyor pipe, swivel pipe connections extending from :said boxes, a delivery pipe line communicating with the connection on one end of the conveyor pipe, a withdrawal pipe line communicating with the other connection, a circulating pump with which. the lastline is connected, and a radiator with which both delivery and withdrawal pipes are connected.

3. A cooling system ior railway rolling stock comprising a pair of wheels, a tubular axle connecting saidwheels and projecting beyond each 4 of the wheels, a conveyor pipe for a cooling medium extending through said axle and therebeyond, and means whereby a cooling medium is circulated through said conveyor pipe from one end and discharged therefrom from the opposite end embodying packing boxes on the ends of said conveyor pipe and swivel pipe connections extending from said boxes, a feed pipe line communicating with the connection on one end of the conveyor pipe, a withdrawal pipe line communicating with the other connection, and a'circulating pump with which the last named pipe line is connected.

4. A cooling system for railway rolling stock comprising a pair of car wheels, a tubular axle connecting said wheels and projecting beyond each of the wheels, an axle cooling and coolant conveyor pipe extending through said axle and therebeyond, and means whereby a coolant is I passed through said conveyor pipe from one end and discharged from the opposite end, including packing boxes on the. ends of said pipe, swivel pipe connections extending from said packing boxes, and a feed conveyor pipe line communicating with the connection on one end of the pipe, a withdrawal pipe line communicating-with the remainingconnection. I

, 5. .A car wheel axle cooling structure ,of the class described comprising a wheel-equipped hollow axle, a coolant conducting pipe extending through the bore and beyond the opposite ends of said axle for rotationsimult-aneously with the axleand wheels, a coolant supply and delivery pipe, a swivel coupling connecting the, latter with the intake end of the conduc-tingpipe, a coolant withdrawal and return pipe coupled to the opposite end of said conducting pipe, a circulating pumpconnected with said return pipe, and an air cooled radiator affording a circulatory connection-between adjacent ends of the delivery and return pipes. c g

, NVESLEY D. WEEKS.

nnrnnnncns CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS use Number Name 118,760 Tripler Sept. 5,1871 158,151 Tinney Dec. '22, 1874 434,995 Robertson Aug. 26, 1890 1,310,682 Shubondy ,July 22, 1919 1,439,491 Stehli '---Q--T---+-- Dec. 19,1922 1,938,042 Robinson Dec. :5, 1933 2,352,206

Kendall i June 27, 1944 

